ASIRT to investigate incident

One man is in hospital in critical but stable condition following an incident with police last week.

On Wednesday evening, at about 5:15 p.m., Lethbridge Police Service received a report of a physical altercation between two people in the alley along the 300 block of Stafford Drive South. Police said, in a news release Friday, that an officer arrived on scene and found that one of the men was determined to be in breach of bail conditions. He was was placed under arrest.

A confrontation occurred between the remaining man and the officer that resulted in the man falling backwards and hitting his head on the pavement. EMS was called, examined the man and transported him to hospital where it was determined he sustained a head injury.

He remains in hospital in critical but stable condition.

As the injury occurred during contact with police, the Lethbridge Police Service reported the matter to the Director of Law Enforcement, as required by the Police Act and ASIRT was directed to conduct an independent investigation.

“I have complete confidence in the training, experience and professionalism of our members,” said Chief Rob Davis in the release. “The Lethbridge Police Service is committed to public transparency and we welcome ASIRT’s independent investigation.”